The Detroit Lions are once again considered among the league's elite contenders after a convincing Week 3 win over the Baltimore Ravens. There is always room for improvement, though, and general manager Brad Holmes could be wise to upgrade a pass rush that only ranks 14th on Pro Football Focus.
While Aidan Hutchinson is starting to come alive and Al-Quadin Muhammad has been a breakout star, the franchise is one injury away from having a real problem. This leads to the idea that a blockbuster addition could be the missing piece to help launch the Lions on a Super Bowl run, especially after back-to-back massive wins.
The Cincinnati Bengals' losing quarterback Joe Burrow for at least the next two months of the season has opened the door for the franchise to become a surprise seller before the November trade deadline. No expiring contract has more value than Hendrickson's, and if the Bengals are open to dealing the star defender, it logically makes sense for it to be with an NFC team, opening the door for the Lions to pull off a blockbuster trade.
Lions Must Capitalize on Momentum by Trading for Bengals' Trey Hendrickson
No potential pass rusher on the trade or free agent market has more impact than Hendrickson.
Hendrickson has 79.0 career sacks and has shown zero signs of slowing down. He's been a Pro Bowler in each of the four previous seasons, and even earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in 2024.
Hendrickson brings a motor that refuses to quit, making him a great fit for head coach Dan Campbell, who loves hard workers. The Bengals' defense is among the worst in the NFL, but none of that lack of success is on the 30-year-old stud. It wouldn't be unfathomable to imagine his production increasing by joining a contender like the Lions.
It's important to point out the obvious roadblock in this potential deal. The Lions have key players who are soon going to be due a new contract, while Hutchinson is aiming for a payday of his own this offseason. Finding a way to keep your offense together while paying two edge rushers is going to be incredibly difficult, and GM Holmes might not want to blow up his draft capital on an uncertain target.
Still, trading for Hendrickson would prove that the Lions are serious about winning the Lombardi Trophy. Fans aren't going to care whether Hendrickson walks away at the end of the year if the season ends with a Super Bowl 60 victory. It's a sacrifice worth making if it means championship glory.
On top of that, the Bengals might want to get something back for Hendrickson if they're worried about losing him to the open market in March. If the Lions can use that situation to their advantage, Holmes should pick up the phone before another pass-rush-hungry GM beats him to the punch.